Issue No.29, November 2010 The official Monthly Magazine ... · Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel, and...

The official Monthly Magazine of Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority 2010Issue No.29, November

Mohammed bin Rashidinaugurates the trial run ofthe Metro Green Line

Mohammed bin Rashidinaugurates the trial run ofthe Metro Green Line

Al Masar 29-E-November2010 10/31/10 8:26 PM

Roads and Transport Authority

Dubai

Chairman of Board

andExecutive Director

Mattar Al Tayer

Alongthe

way

Milestones

A new achievement is made by the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) on the eveof celebrating its 5th anniversary by launching the trial run of the Green Line ofDubai Metro where His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, accompanied by HHSheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, overmore than one hour, inspected the stations on the Green Line of Dubai Metro.HH pondered the heritage-inspired design of Al Ghubaiba and Al Ras Stations andexpressed delight with the artistic design which revolves around the concept ofemploying architectural traditional elements used in antique buildings, such as windtowers (Brajeel), oriels (Mashrabia), alleyways (Sukaik), internal arches and othersthrough replicating them in an enhanced manner, while addressing the aestheticand technical aspects of those elements such that the traditionally-themed stationswould look like a natural extension of the Heritage & Diving Village, fit well with theantique control towers and integrate with the urban fabric of the Dubai Creek ShoresDevelopment Project; which bears the same appearance.His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President andPrime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressed satisfaction with the com-pletion of the Metro project; considering it a civilized achievement added to therecord of achievements of our beloved country in all fields and reiterated that theconstruction of strategic development projects is progressing ahead with full deter-mination.The trial run of the Green Line is a key milestone in the progress of construction ofthe Dubai Metro project; which is making continuous successes. On 15th Octoberlast, 5 new stations started operation on the Red Line, namely; Business Bay, FirstGulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel, and Jumeirah Lakes Towers while the number ofpassengers picked up significantly to break the barrier of 36 million passengers.RTA success and excellence drive spanned various agencies & sectors as envis-aged in widening roads network from 8,715 km in 2005 to 10,809 km by the end of2009, achieving a 153 per cent increase in the number of lanes crossing DubaiCreek, and a 50 per cent improvement in the traffic flow in various main traffic hubs.Public transport systems witnessed a remarkable development with the introductionof the Dubai Metro, Water Bus and Water Taxi besides modernizing the fleet of pub-lic buses. Public transport ridership is also on the rise and the number of daily com-muters using public transit means has topped one million passengers and the num-ber is likely to rise further with the opening of five new stations on the Red Line ofDubai Metro in the mid of last October. Metro ridership is poised to receive a bigboost with the opening of the remaining stations on the Red Line and operation ofthe Green Line in 2011.Figures and indicators demonstrate that RTA is moving right on track to realize itsstrategic objective of raising public transport trips to 34 per cent of total trips madeby 2020, with the current rate hovering around 16 per cent, Including trips made bytaxi vehicles.

Mattar Al TayerChairman of the Board and Executive DirectorRoads & Transport Authority

General Supervisor

Aysha Al BusmaitDirector of Customer Service

Editorial Consultant

Maher Al Kayyali

Managing Director

Mohammed Al Munji

Editing Manager

Khulood Al - SharafNashwan M. Al Taee

Art Director

Sara Al Mudharreb

Layout

Mohd Hassan Al Hafiz

Admin Coordinator

Afaf Al Fayyad

Photography

Syed Zaheer Haidar

RTA Address

P.O.Box 118899United Arab EmiratesTel: +971 4 2844444Fax: +971 4 2906661

www.rta.aeContact Us:

Tel: +971 4 2844444Fax: +971 4 2906661

Email: [email protected]


content

4Issue 29 - November 2010 . www.rta.ae

Cover Story

Al Tayer briefs Qatari delegationon RTA mass transit experience

H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive

Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), received

a Qatari delegation headed by H.E. Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al

Ibrahim, Member of the Central Municipal Council.

Mohammed: Strategic projects carve their way with full determination

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Rulerof Dubai, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the Dubai Metro project; a civilized achievement that makesa new addition to the record of our beloved country in all fields. HH congratulated all those who contributed to theachievement of this distinguished service and tourist project on time; an indicator demonstrating that the construc-tion of the strategic development projects drive is progressing ahead with full determina

RTA celebrates its5th anniversary in styleIntegrated public transportshifts gear

Thanks to the projects and initiatives carried outover the last five years, the Roads & TransportAuthority (RTA) has made several achievementsthat yielded constructive results spanning thestrategic planning of roads & transport systemsalong with booking their respective rights of way,upgrading roads network & public transport sys-tems, addressing the requirements of pedestrians& traffic safety, and developing traffic and trans-port policies.

66

1144

1100


»ÑjQóàdG Ωƒ«dG á©«ÑW ≈∏Y äGAÉ°VEG

áeRÓdG äGó©ŸGh á«YÉHôdG IOÉ«≤dG º¡a

AGôë°üdG »à IOÉ«≤∏d á≤ãdG Ö°ùch á«≤«≤◊G IOÉ«≤dÉH ™àªàdG

É¡bRBÉe »à ´ƒbƒdG ΩóYh AGôë°üdG ≈∏Y ±ô©àdG á«Ø«c º∏©J

¿ÉæÄªWE’Gh ¿ÉeC’ÉH Qƒ©°ûdGh áMGôdG äÉ«æ≤J

AGôë°üdG »à IÉéædG äÉ«æ≤J º∏©J

áeÓ°ùdG äÉeõ∏à°ùe áaÉµH Iõ¡ÛG áãjó◊G ÉæJÉÑcôe Ωóîà°SG

∞°ûàcGh ,áæjóŸG øY Gó«©H ,Gó«L AGôë°üdG á©«ÑW ¤G ±ô©J

ájÈdG IÉ«◊G

IOÉ«≤∏d Ú°üàfl ÚHQóe πÑb øe äGQhódG ≈∏Y ±Gô°TE’G

áØ∏àfl äÉ¨∏Hh áeó≤àŸG

AGôë°üdG »à »YÉHôdG ™aódÉH áÑcôŸG IOÉ«b º∏©J

záeó≤àŸG IOÉ«≤∏d äGQÉeE’G

äGQÉ«°ùdG IOÉ«b º«∏©àd äGQÉeE’G ó¡©e ΩÉ°ùbCG óMCG

ÖjQóJ IQhO

IOÉ«≤dG

ájhGôë°üdGIOÉ«b »à á≤ãdGh IÈÿG

»YÉHôdG ™aódG äGP IQÉ«°ùdG


Cover Story


Mohammed bin Rashid inaugurates the trial run of the MetroGreen Line in the presence of Hamdan bin Mohammed

Mohammed: Strategic projects carvetheir way with full determinationRoads & Transport Authority – Mohammed Al Munji:

His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presidentand Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, expressed satisfactionwith the completion of the Dubai Metro project; a civilized achievement thatmakes a new addition to the record of our beloved country in all fields. HHcongratulated all those who contributed to the achievement of this distin-guished service and tourist project on time; an indicator demonstrating thatthe construction of the strategic development projects drive is progressingahead with full determination.


This took place when HH Sheikh Mohammed binRashid Al Maktoum launched the technical trial run ofthe Dubai Metro Green Line in the presence of HHSheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Mak-toum, Dubai Crown Prince. The event was also attend-ed by H.E. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of Dubai Ruler's Court; H.E. Lieutenant Gen-eral Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Chief of Dubai Police;Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum;H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Exec-utive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority(RTA); H.E. Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-Generalof Dubai Protocol and Guest Department, H.E. MajorGeneral Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, Deputy Comman-der of Dubai Police; and Khalifa Hassan bin Drai,Executive Director of The Dubai Centre of AmbulanceServices, in addition to several other RTA officials,directors and engineers.HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,flanked by HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad BinRashid Al Maktoum and the entourage, boarded ametro carriage from the Dubai Healthcare City Station

to Etisalat Station at Al Qusais in a track stretching 23km spanning 18 stations 6 of which are undergroundstations. The Contractor has finalized all constructionworks and is currently putting the final touches ofinternal decorations, and electromechanical works ofthe stations such that the project to be completed ontime as per the approved timeline in August 2011. HH moved to Etisalat station on board the metro carpassing through other stations on the Green Line;namely Khalid bin Al Waleed, Al Ghubaiba, Al Ras andAl Ittihad station; where the Red and Green metrolines meet under the ground, up to the terminus Eti-salat Station. HH stopped at each station to have abriefing from H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, RTA Chairman ofthe Board and Executive Director, about the size,capacity, internal designs, and electromechanicalworks of each station.Explaining the features of Dubai Healthcare City Sta-tion, Al Tayer stated that the station has a capacity tohandle 11,000 passengers per hour per direction. Itmeasures 130 meters in length 30 meters in width andis fitted with escalators and lifts.

7 Issue 29 - November 2010 . www.rta.ae


At Al Ghubaiba Station and Al Ras Station, HH SheikhMohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum reviewed the fab-ulous internal designs of the two stations inspired bythe history and legacy of the UAE. The design con-cept revolves around employing the architectural tra-ditional elements used in antique buildings, such aswind towers (Brajeel), oriels (Mashrabia), alleyways(Sukaik), internal arches and others through replicat-ing them in an enhanced manner, while addressingthe aesthetic and technical dimensions of those ele-ments such that the heritage-inspired stations wouldmatch the traditional Souks in the locality, look like anatural extension of the Heritage & Diving Village, andfit well with the antique control towers currently seenin the area. The entrances of the stations at theground level have been designed to fit with the tradi-tional architectural setting of these areas and inte-grate with the design of the Dubai Creek ShoresDevelopment Project; which has the same theme.At Al Ittihad Station, an interchange station in whichthe Red and Green metro lines intersect under theground, HH toured the station; which is consideredthe world’s biggest metro station spanning an area of25,000 square meters with a capacity to handle about22,000 passengers per hour. The Station, which con-sists of two levels, extends 230 meters in length, 50meters in width, and 18 meters in depth. It housescommercial & service outlets for serving metro users,and has two entry points equipped with lifts & escala-tors. Four tunnels branch out of the Station bound toKhalid bin Al Waleed & Al Rigga Stations on the RedLine, and Bani Yas & Salah Uddin Stations on theGreen Line.The next stop in the tour of HH the Vice-President andPrime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai was AlQiyada Station, located near the Dubai Police GeneralHQ; one of the elevated stations of the Green Line

built at the level of the elevated track. It has a capaci-ty to handle 11,000 passengers per hour per directionwith dimensions measuring about 130 m in length and30 m in width.HH capped his tour at the terminus Etisalat Station, AlQusais; which is linked to a multi-story parking lotthat has a capacity to house 2350 vehicles and a pub-lic bus station. HH attended to a briefing by H.E. Mat-tar Al Tayer about the components of the stationwhich has been linked with the Park-and-Ride facilitywhich can handle up to 2350 vehicles in addition topublic buses with the aim of encouraging the publicto use the metro in their daily travel inside Dubai Emi-rate. The building has been designed to provideample space for feeder buses of the station, ensuresmooth traffic flow and accommodate a huge numberof buses at a time. It is also fitted with air-conditionedfootbridges linking up with the opposite side of theroad to ensure easy and safe access to the metro sta-tion, while providing the standard safety measures forpassenger movement in the building.HH was also briefed about the Metro Depot at AlQusais; a garage for the metro carriages to be main-tained and cleaned. The facility is air-conditioned andfitted with an advanced fire fighting system. It com-prises a parking area for train carriages and has acapacity to house 60 trains at a time. It includes RailOperations Systems Control Center; which ensuresthe safety of doors, brakes and engines in each trainseparately, as well as the air-conditioning systemsand other sophisticated sub systems. It also containsworkshops for carrying out maintenance works, anddedicated workshops for washing and cleaning oftrain carriages. It also comprises a Train Systems Control Center;which is fitted with state-of-the-art technologiesenabling full control of the daily metro operation on

Cover Story



both the Red and Green Lines. The Center also pro-vides control, supervision and monitoring of rail traf-fic & systems through supervising the functionality ofthe auto train movement, communication systems,electrical transformers, and power feed system forboth the trains and metro stations. It also enablessupervision of safety systems such as fire-fightingsystems, ventilation systems in tunnels, stations &trains in addition to rail air-conditioning systems, andsafety of doors, brakes and engines of each train. TheCenter also acts as a point of communication with railcommuters in the event of emergency through thecommunication system on board the carriages andthe Control Room.Before leaving the final leg of his tour at Al Qusais, HHSheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum received aportrait crafted by a group of children and presentedto HH by the RTA marking the successful leadershipby HH of the UAE Riders Team culminated in the win-ning of the Team’s Gold Medal in the Endurance Rideof the World Equestrian Games held recently in Ken-

tucky, USA. HH was also presented with a mementomarking the first anniversary of the operation of themetro Red Line, and a souvenir marking the trial runof the Green Line track.The Technical Trial RunThe Technical Trial Run comprises two key phases.The first one is known as the 'Static Test' phase thatinvolves placing a motionless car of the rolling stockon the track and performing system tests coveringcommunication systems, signaling systems, powersupplies, air-conditioning, on-board electronics, andlighting, etc. This test will also include integration andco-ordination tests between various sub-systems andcomponents.On passing this first test, there will be a second phaseknown as the "Dynamic test" to a car without passen-gers on board. It involves tests of various systemswhile the train is in motion, including propulsion andbrake test, load tests, traction power tests, electro-magnetic compatibility tests, automatic train opera-tion tests, communication tests and speed tests.



Anniversary


RTA celebrates its5th anniversary in styleIntegrated public transport shifts gear

RTA celebrates its5th anniversary in styleIntegrated public transport shifts gear

By Mohammed Al Munji:

Thanks to a bright vision and unlimited support ofsenior leadership, the Roads & Transport Authority(RTA) has managed over the last five years to deliv-er several projects and initiatives that span strate-gic planning of roads & transport systems alongwith booking their respective rights of way, upgrad-ing roads network & public transport systems,addressing the requirements of pedestrians & trafficsafety, and applying a package of traffic and trans-port policies.


Among the towering achievement was the operation of the Red Line of the

Dubai Metro, which has seen the operation of added 16 stations this year,

bringing the total number of stations opened to 26 stations the last of which

were five stations operated in mid of October last.

Among the milestones of the Dubai Metro project was the launch by His

Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and

Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, of the trial run of the Green

Line of the Dubai Metro, where the contractor has finalized all construction

works and is currently putting the final touches to the internal decors and

the electromechanical works at the stations such that the project will be

delivered on the approved schedule in August 2011.

The portfolio of RTA achievements includes a 153 per cent increase in the

number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 19 to 48, a 24 per cent

increase in the total length of roads network in Dubai Emirate from 8715

km in 2005 to 10809 km by the end of 2009, and an 83 per cent increase

in the number of lanes of key traffic corridors (Sheikh Zayed, Al Ittihad,

Emirates, Dubai Bypass, Dubai-Al Hibab, Al Rebat Roads) from 36 to 66

lanes. In view of these results and others, key traffic hubs witnessed a

remarkable improvement in the traffic flow in the range of 35 to 50 per cent,

depending of the area and roads. In the field of public transport the rider-

ship of public buses increased from 96 million in 2006 to 120 million pas-

sengers by the end of 2009 and similarly the number of commuters using

marine transport modes increased from 17 million to 20 million passen-

gers, and the number of taxi passengers also picked up from 50 million to

140 million passengers.

The Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA H.E. Mattar

Al Tayer stated the ongoing support and patronage accorded by HH

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime

Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the close follow-up by HH

Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown

Prince and Chairman of the Executive Council, and HH Sheikh Maktoum

bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Vice-

Chairman of the Executive Council, was the underlying factor responsible

for all achievements made by the RTA over the last five years.

He stated that from inception RTA paid much attention to upgrading the

performance level, keeping abreast of the successive developments made

in various fields, enhancing its ability to apply modern & advanced admin-

istrative concepts, focusing on customers service & winning customers

satisfaction, developing the existing resources, simplifying the work proce-

dures, advocating the spirit of creativity, unleashing employees innovative

skills, and achieving excellence in government management.

Foundation challenges

RTA embarked on sorting out solutions for the challenges confronting the

transportation system in Dubai Emirate; which focused on the traffic con-

gestion that involved an annual cost to the Emirate amounting to 5.9 billion

dirham worth of time wasted in traffic congestion, the traffic safety with

accidents fatality reaching 21.7 cases per 100 thousand of population com-

pared to 5 cases in countries like the UK and 6 cases in Sweden. Chal-

lenges also included the limited use of mass transit systems which was not

more than 6 per cent compared to 40-80 per cent in developed countries.

Challenges also included serving the requirements of the rapid urban &

economic expansion of Dubai Emirate with traffic growth rate clocking 13

per cent per annum compared to 2 to 3 per cent in European cities. The

annual growth of Dubai population was in excess of 6 per cent whereas the

corresponding rate in most European cities was not more than 2 per cent.

Equally the increase in the number of registered vehicles in Dubai was as

high as 17 per cent per annum at a time where the prevailing correspon-

ding rate was not more than 4 per cent in European cities and about 8 per

cent in Saudi Arabia.

Roads

It is well established that mega roads and transport projects require

extended periods of planning, designing, constructing, and operating

before starting to reap their traffic benefits. Nevertheless during its short

lifespan, RTA managed to complete an array of mega projects illustrated

by the increased number of lanes crossing Dubai Creek from 19 at the time

of establishing the RTA to 48 lanes (153% increase rate). This had been

possible as a result of completing the construction of the 13-lane Business

Bay Crossing, replacing the old Al Garhoud Bridge by a new 14-lane

bridge, constructing the 6-lanes Floating Bridge, and increasing the num-

ber of lanes of Al Maktoum Bridge from 9 to 11 lanes.

These projects have contributed to increasing the average speed on these

crossings by 20 to 40 per cent, and increasing the number of lanes at core

traffic hubs from 36 to 66 lanes (83 per cent increase rate), as illustrated

by an increase in the number of lanes of Emirates Road in the sector

extending from the outskirts of Sharjah up to the Arabian Ranches Inter-

change from 6 to 12 lanes, and an increase in the number of lanes of Dubai

Bypass Road, which had been developed as a new traffic corridor stretch-

ing from the outskirts of Sharjah Emirate to the outskirts of Abu Dhabi Emi-

rate (72 km) from 4 to 12 lanes. RTA also constructed road and bridge proj-

ects linking Al Khail Road with the Business Bay Crossing with a capacity

of 10 lanes, and carried out the Parallel Roads Project from Sheikh Rashid

Road in the north up to the outskirts of Abu Dhabi Emirate (108 km) with a

6 lanes capacity.

As to interchanges, several key projects have been opened; resulting in a

radical improvement in traffic movement. This included the Arabian Ranch-

es Interchange at Emirates Road, and Sheikh Zayed Road interchanges at

Tecom, Sufouh, Emirates Hills as well as the entries of The Palm

Jumeirah, the 5.5 Interchange at Sheikh Zayed Road, Beirut – Al Nahdah

Roads Interchange, the upper deck of the Financial Center Road (the first

double deck road in the region). RTA had also completed most stages of

Al Ittihad Road Widening Project as well as the first Interchange of Sheikh

Zayed Road, and improved some of the existing interchanges such as Wafi

Interchange. These road improvements and widening works resulted in

increased speed levels on core traffic hubs.

Traffic

RTA has introduced several express solutions to improve traffic movement

on more than 30 locations; which in turn improved the traffic movement

and safety at those locations by 20% on the average. RTA has also

launched several initiatives for improving the traffic safety levels that com-

prised running educative campaigns, constructing a number of footbridges,

and constructing a pedestrian fence to fend off passenger crossing at dan-

gerous spots of roads network. It also introduced the flashing green light

traffic signals which has contributed to a 75 per cent reduction in the num-

ber of fatalities associated with jumping the red traffic signal. The efforts to

enhance roads traffic safety carried out by the RTA in collaboration with

Dubai Police General HQ have yielded a reduction in traffic mortality rate

from 21.7 cases per 100 thousand of population in 2007 to about 12.7

cases per 100 thousand of population in 2009. The last months of this year

witnessed a substantial drop in accident fatalities and the number is

expected to drop in 2013 to 9 cases per 100 thousand of population.

Salik

The Toll Gate System (Salik), which is a pioneer project in the region, has

contributed to reducing the traffic density on the corridors covered by the

system, and raising the average speed on the roads covered by the sys-

tem. Despite the increase in the average number of daily trips in the Emi-

rate from 3.5 million trips in 2003 to about 5.5 million trips in 2009, Salik

has contributed to increasing the driving speed in the corridors covered by

the system by more than 20%. For instance the time taken to complete the

distance from the 4th Interchange on Sheikh Zayed Road (near Mall of the

Emirates) to Al Nahdah Interchange dropped from 79 minutes before the

introduction of the system to 27 minutes following the application of the

new system i.e. reflecting a 66% improvement. The traffic volumes at Al

Garhoud Bridge has dropped by more than 30% and at Al Maktoum Bridge



by 33% and in a parallel development the number of trips at the Business

Bay Crossing increased by 47%, and at Emirates Road by 7%; which

meets RTA objective of diverting the transit traffic to alternative roads.

Dubai Metro

Among the defining achievements made by the RTA is the operation of the

Dubai Metro Project, the longest driverless metro project undertaken as a

single project in the world. Dubai Metro was launched on a the preset date

of 09.09.2009 starting with 10 key stations and the opening of stations con-

tinued till the total number of stations opened has reached now 26 stations

the last 5 of which were opened mid October last. This year has seen a key

milestone in the project as HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,

launched the technical trial run of the Green Line of the Dubai Metro,

where the contractor has finalized all construction works and is currently

putting the final touches to the internal decors and the electromechanical

works at the stations such that the project will be delivered on the approved

timetable in August 2011.

The operational results of the Dubai Metro, which has celebrated in Sep-

tember last one year of operation, illustrate the success of the project in

transforming the culture and attitude of a wide segment of the community

towards public transport means. Indicators show a huge success in the

operational efficiency, service punctuality and achieving the highest global

safety standards. Since the start of operation till the end of October last,

the metro ridership exceeded 36 million persons and the number of com-

muters is expected to rise further this November with the operation of 5

additional stations in mid October last.

The number of metro riders has seen steady rise since the start of opera-

tion in September 2009 as it jumped from 1.8 million passengers in Octo-

ber 2009 to 3.3 million passengers in August 2010 recording in the process

an increase rate as high as 83 per cent. The number of daily commuters

using the Dubai Metro also jumped from about 55,000 passengers in Octo-

ber 2009 to about 130,000 passengers last October, and the number is set

to exceed 140,000 passengers by the end of 2010.

Dubai Metro applies state-of-the-art rail technology including an air-condi-

tioning system inside the stations as well as in the trains customized to suit

the climatic conditions of urban Dubai district. All trains function

according to an integrated electronic system, enabling

enhanced control and accurate journey schedules. The metro

stations have unique and innovative architectural designs, and

have been fitted with the latest safety and security technolo-

gies. Parking spaces have been allocated for public and pri-

vate vehicles at each station.

Dubai Metro has a set of unique features as it is the world’s

first metro train operating within a single city that has a gold

class. It has the world’s largest underground metro station; Al

Ittihad Station spanning an area of about 220 thousand square

feet. The stations have high levels of decorations and internal

finishing works, and Khalid bin Al Waleed Station is consid-

ered the most beautiful metro station in the world. Dubai Metro

is characterized by stations linked with the neighbouring build-

ings and commercial centers through overhead bridges or

subways and has parking facilities for more than 8000 vehi-

cles at different locations. It has integrated transport systems

at each station (parking, bus stops, and taxi ranks) and the

trains and stations are covered by wireless internet service

(Wi-Fi) enabling commuters to use their laptops or handheld devices in

transit. It also has modern footbridges fitted with the latest equipment, cen-

tral air-conditioning, and travelators enabling passengers easy access to

station concourse. Various methods can be used to pay the metro fare

through the unified card (Nol) or even tapping the mobile phone across the

e-gates.

Al Safouh Tram

RTA started the preliminary works of Phase I of Al Safouh Tram project

including preparation of precast concrete sites, drilling trial tunnels, carry-

ing out topographic surveys of locations in which the project is to be con-

structed, and conducting soil analysis for the same area.

The project extends 14 km along Al Safouh Road, with 9.5 km long of the

project to be constructed during the initial stage starting from the Marina to

the Mall of the Emirates Station. Trams network include 19 passenger sta-

tions, 9 of which will be constructed under Phase I spread over population

density and activity areas along the tram path. Each tram measures 44

meters in length and has a capacity to load 300 passengers. The tram fleet

comprises 8 trains in Phase I plus 17 trains in Phase II making a total of 25

trains, enabling the tram to lift about 5000 passengers per hour per direc-

tion.

Public Transport

Through upgrading mass transit systems RTA managed to improve the

percentage of trips made by mass transit modes from 6% in 2005 to 16%,

including trips made by taxis, and is seeking to increase it further to 34%

by 2020; 17% for the metro and the remainder shared by public transport

and marine transport. In order to improve and expand the services ren-

dered by public buses, RTA deployed articulated and double-deck buses

raising the number of buses to about 1593 buses. The new buses are man-

ufactured according to Euro 4 and Euro 5 environment-friendly specifica-

tions and boast high levels of luxury and quality. They have custom-built

low floor to ease the boarding and alighting and assist the use by special

needs persons who have a designated entrance in the bus. Buses are fit-

ted with the latest passenger information systems and on-board monitor-

ing systems. RTA has also constructed about 900 air-conditioned bus shel-

ters for the use of public bus commuters distributed all over the Emirate. It

also constructed several bus depots at Al Rawiyah, Jebel Ali and Al

Khawaneej besides upgrading Al Awir station. RTA efforts to upgrade pub-

lic transport have contributed to increasing the ridership of public transport

from 96 million passengers in 2006 to 120 million passengers by the end

of 2009 and the number of public bus users during the period from Janu-

ary to September this year reached 73.48 million passengers.

RTA has also introduced public bus fleet traffic management system, and

launched the Journey Planner, known as Wojhai, to ease the mobility of

public transport users in Dubai. Dubai is the fifth city across the globe after

London, New York, Munich and Melbourne, to apply the Journey Planner

system. RTA also provided maps describing the journey route at the sta-

tions and the internal or external bus mounted display monitors. It has also

uploaded public transport information on Google Maps; rendering Dubai

the first city in the Middle East & North Africa that has introduced its pub-

lic transport network in the digital cyber space through Google Maps.

Anniversary



Marine Transport

Marine transport modes are considered a key component of transport sys-

tems in the Emirate of Dubai. Abras ferry about 20 million passengers per

annum and considering the importance of this sector, RTA prepared an

integrated plan for upgrading marine transport in the Emirate. The plan

envisages operating the Creek lines, the coastal line along Jumeirah

Beach and the new Islands service.

Over the past five years, RTA has achieved several key projects such as

retrofitting 149 abra engines, revamping abra dockyards and marinas, and

launching the 36-seater water bus which is set to ferry about 5 million com-

muters per annum over the next 5 years. The water bus extends 12 meters

in length and 4 meters in width, weighs 7 tons and travels at a speed of 10-

12 knots. It is fitted with twin diesel-powered engines of 185 hp each, and

manufactured at the highest world-class security and safety standards.

In May 2010, HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-Presi-

dent and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated the

Water Taxi; the latest marine transport mode deployed on Dubai Creek

and shores as an additional express transit mode integrated with the rest

of transport systems in the Emirate. It is characterized by an aerodynamic

design combining the traditional abra shape, and modernity reflected in the

roof emulating the shape of the Dubai Metro stations and capitalizing of the

latest technology applicable in this field. It has a dual base structure with

Catamaran Low Wash body, a smoothly sloping ceiling, and air-condi-

tioned interior in addition to comfortable seats simulating aircraft business

class seats as they are fitted with remotely controlled LCD monitors at the

rear of the front seat, 45 degrees reclining seats and a food tray. The water

taxi can accommodate up to 11 passengers plus the driver, and has a

design customized to meet the requirements of special needs and 20% of

seats have been allocated for this category. These seats are foldable to

provide ample space for the entry and exit of wheelchairs users without

any disruption in addition to the full stability on-board the cabin.

The service is offered on demand through phone booking where the pas-

senger(s) can wait at the agreeable boarding station and the alighting

process can be at any location depending on the

wish of the passenger at any of the water taxi

stops. The water taxi can also be chartered for

tourist purposes across Dubai Creek.

RTA is heading to the operation of ferries

“Ferry Dubai” each has a capacity to accom-

modate 100 passengers. It measures 32

meters in length and 7.6 meters in width and

has a speed of 24 knots. It weighs about 20

tons and has twin diesel-powered engines of

450 hp.

Licensing

2010 was a breakthrough year in the achieve-

ments of the Licensing Agency as it witnessed

the launch of several initiatives to uplift the level

of drivers testing & licensing services, and improving the traffic safety stan-

dards of novice drivers. The number of transactions processed online in

drivers licensing, vehicles licensing and number plates increased by 21 per

cent, and the number of customers visiting RTA service centers dropped,

thanks to the availability of a wide range of e-services, by 35 per cent. The

estimated transaction process time dropped from 90 minutes to 10 minutes

for renewal of vehicle registration, from 10 minutes to 2 minutes for open-

ing a traffic file, and from 100 minutes to 15 minutes for renewal of the driv-

ing license.

RTA carried out a thorough overhaul of drivers training to bring it at par

with the highest global standards. It unified the training modules at all driv-

ing institutes based on the highest international practices applicable at

Sweden, Canada, and Australia, and also prepared 15 manuals for learn-

ers, instructors and examiners in Arabic, English and Urdu languages.

These unique books across the Middle East will be put at the disposal of

all driving license applicants. It also trained 32 instructors representing the

crème of instructors at various driving institutes; 16 of whom were trained

on light vehicles and the other 16 on heavy buses. During this training,

which was supervised by training experts from Victoria State at Australia,

trainees received intensive training on the best method of delivering infor-

mation to the trainee, the appropriate implementation of driving and traffic

rules and the procedure that enables the trainee to be fully conversant with

safe and defensive driving practices after obtaining the required driving

licenses.

RTA made improvements in the licensing service centers with a view to

providing a proper and comfortable environment for customers. It opened

new centers to deliver licensing services and new services at the existing

centers, such as Hatta Licensing Services Center and launching the e-

services of the Agency. Customers can fully avail the driving license

renewal and vehicle registration renewal services through RTA website,

besides launching new services such as distinguished number plates and

the online number plates auction.

RTA also signed an agreement for practicing training, qualifying and

licensing drivers in the Emirate of Dubai with model driving institutes with

the aim of setting the tasks and responsibilities between the RTA & insti-

tutes, and control the service level. It also separated drivers testing from

the training activity to ensure transparency and fairness in drivers licens-

ing. Accordingly driving examiners have become directly affiliated to the

RTA and not the driving institutes. RTA deployed examiners to the insti-

tutes according to the number of trainees at each institute and rotates them

in a periodical and random manner to ensure neutrality. RTA also applied

a new model for testing driving license applicants in a way that enables the

examiner to assess examinees in an accurate & comprehensive manner.

RTA is currently working on increasing the time span allotted to each

examiner in keeping with the best global practices to enable the examiner

assess the trainee fairly and verify his or her driving skills in a profession-

al manner. All Licensing Agency examiners have been trained on this sys-

tem under the supervision of specialized professional experts.

Dubai Taxi

As part of its strategic vision and in a bid to upgrade the level of services

rendered to customers, the RTA took early action launch a number of

plans & initiatives to upgrade the services of Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC)

to enhance the operational efficiency of the fleet, which has reached 93 per

cent during peak hours in 2010 compared to 2009. Among these measures

is the aligning of the regular maintenance

timings to suit the peak hours of taxicabs,

focusing on internal maintenance and

repairs in DTC’s workshop covering 75%,

and launching several drivers motivation-

al initiatives; such as the Ideal Driver

Award (Drivers Performance System)

amounting to two million dirham, and the

Distinguished Driver Award. DTC also

stepped up the monitoring campaigns of

vehicles, and introduced a service for lift-

ing drivers, on the same lines of RTA

Awselni service, from DTC premises to

their homes and vice versa through con-

tracting with a company to offer 3 buses

to run the service.

DTC also assigned due attention to cus-

tomer service through heeding to their feedbacks and currently attend to

carry out body washing of 1500 vehicles per day and cabin cleaning of 25

vehicles per day. It also embarked on initiatives including the provision of

organic deodorants on board taxicabs to be replaced on monthly basis,

and readjusting the technical specifications of taxi seats by covering them

with a dark fabric to avoid developing of stains. DTC is also running a num-

ber of excellent services for the public such as the Airport Taxi, Ladies

Taxi, District Taxi, Hatta Taxi, and Special Needs Taxi. Currently the fleet

of Airport Taxi comprises 350 cabs deployed on Terminals 1, 2 and 3

manned by 800 trained drivers.

Sustained Drive

RTA is proceeding with the construction of the existing infrastructure proj-

ects, particularly mass transit systems, introduction of transportation poli-

cies and legislations to promote public transport, broaden the application

of modern traffic & transport technologies, and increase the educational

substance delivered to road & transportation system users in a bid to pro-

mote the use of public transport. RTA is also seeking to improve the safe-

ty levels, reduce traffic accidents mortality rates, and introduce a package

of initiatives & procedures to encourage short-distance walking and

cycling.



H.E. Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Execu-

tive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA),

received a Qatari delegation headed by H.E. Ibrahim bin

Abdullah Al Ibrahim, Member of the Central Municipal

Council.

The meeting was attended from the Qatar side by Hassan

bin Abbas Abdul Rahim, and Hamad bin Salih Al Hawl,

and from the RTA attended a host of CEOs and Directors.

In the outset of the meeting, H.E. Mattar Al Tayer com-

mended the cordial relations linking the UAE and the sis-

ter state of Qatar under the wise leaderships of both coun-

tries. “Visits of delegations from GCC countries offer a

great opportunity for exchanging expertise in various

fields and capitalizing on the practices of the GCC coun-

tries. In this regard RTA is pleased to offer all its expertise

and resources in support of sister and friendly countries,”

said Al Tayer.

The meeting reviewed RTA expertise in the drive to

migrate from private vehicles to public transport means;

where Al Tayer said: “From inception, RTA was keen on

developing mass transit modes with the aim of making

them the favourite means of peoples mobility across the

Emirate and a target was set to increase public transport

ridership from 6% in 2006 to as much as 34% in 2020. To

realize this objective, RTA embarked on the Dubai Metro

project billed as the world’s longest driverless metro line

undertaken in a single project, where the first phase was

opened on 09/09/2009. The fleet of public buses jumped

from 560 buses at the time of RTA establishment to more

than 1550 buses in 2010. Moreover, RTA operated 670

air-conditioned bus shelters, completed the construction

of bus depots at Al Awir, Al Rawiya and Al Khawaneej

besides that the work is up and running in constructing

Jebel Ali Bus Depot. As to marine transit systems, RTA

operated the Water Bus, Water Taxi and renovated 154

abras”.

“Thanks to these efforts, public transport in the Emirate

has evolved into a dynamic system in the daily movement

of residents and visitors. The number of persons who

used public transport means in 2009 was in excess of

288.777 million with a daily ridership of about one million

travelers and currently public transport account for 11% of

the total trips, compared to 6% in 2006,” said Al Tayer in

a final remark.

For its part the Qatari delegation commended RTA’s

speed in delivering infrastructure projects such as roads

network, Dubai Metro, fleet of public buses and the inte-

gration between public transport modes. They also hailed

the Dubai Metro project featured by its stunning design,

high quality finishing, and excellent services to com-

muters.

“Countries in the region are impressed by the develop-

ment drive witnessed by the UAE, thanks to its shrewd

leadership; rendering it a focal point of many governments

with the aim of benefiting from these expertise and prac-

tices in delivering and managing projects in various fields.

The Qatari government is interested in benefiting from the

expertise of Dubai Emirate in modernizing mass transit

modes, sorting out bottlenecks in key Qatari cities, and

upgrading the transport infrastructure to prop up the eco-

nomic drive through increased investments, enhanced

commercial activities and higher number of tourists,” said

H.E. Ibrahim bin Abdullah Al Ibrahim.

Our News


Al Tayer briefs Qatari delegationon RTA mass transit experience


Issue No.29, November 2010 The official Monthly Magazine ... · Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel, and...

Documents

Transcript of Issue No.29, November 2010 The official Monthly Magazine ... · Gulf Bank, Sharaf DG, Nakheel, and...